The Bible Project - Going Through the Bible in 5 mins (6/10)

[embed]https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=3dEh25pduQ8&feature=youtu.be[/embed]

Video - What it means to be Gospel-centered (18/9)

[vimeo http://vimeo.com/78347217]

Book Review - The Stories We Tell (31/8)

Chances are, you most likely would spend at least some times watching television or movie every week. The approach that christians often take in respond to this are usually asking what can I watch or not watch? What is right or wrong about this film/video? It seems as though Christians thinks that the shows and movies tell us nothing more than that.

Mike Cosper thinks otherwise and wants to show christians that movies and television does tell stories, stories that christians can easily resonate with. Cosper argues that these stories do, in one way or another show glimpses of the gospel truth, in one shade or the other, in one facet or another.

Cosper first explains the Grand Story, the story of the bible, and from it, he picks out the various main themes that runs throughout the bible, these will need be the ‘lens’ that Cosper will use to help the readers pick out and see traces of these in the various shows and movies. Cosper then goes through 8 of such lens through each chapter.

Each chapter was first explained and illustrated within the biblical context, to show the readers that these really can be done within the bible (ie. the author is not making these up!) then he would run through various shows or scenes that (sometimes intentionally) portrays topics, as examples.

I must say that as I read this book, I do find myself watching a film or watch with these lens, not that prior to these I was just ‘watching’ a show, but the strength of this book is that Cosper does manages to pick up some of the more subtle topics (or sub-topics) and the examples he give are tremendously helpful. Even though I really do not watch a lot of shows, there’s enough description within the text that allows me to ‘catch’ the point and example.

An additional value to this book is how it can be used as a conversational starter towards evangelism, many a time as I was read, I did envision myself, if I did managed to catch such topics to be able to use them as starters to engage my non-christians friends after the show.
Finally, I do not think there’s any book out that at this moment that helps christians see movies in this particular way, and therefore I do think christians should read this book, pastors, students, parents. This would be helpful to you personally, and also helpful as you interact or ministers to others as well. Pastors could even use these as a stepping stone to learn how to get illustrations they could use in the future when they are preaching these topics.

Rating: 4.25/5

If you're interested, you can get it here, and here (free international shipping), Kindle.

Disclaimer: I was given this book free from the publisher in exchange for an honest review.

Modern Hymn - Holy Spirit, Living Breath of God (30/8)

Heard this through a conference I been to recently. I found the words very meaningful. Especially the third stanza.

Holy Spirit, from creation's birth,
Giving life to all that God has made,
Show Your power once again on earth;
Cause Your church to hunger for Your ways.
Let the fragrance of our prayers arise.
Lead us on the road of sacrifice
That in unity the face of Christ
Will be clear for all the world to see.

Hope you will like it as much as I did.

---

 

Holy Spirit, Living Breath of God

http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=EPq9DB1DCWE

Jesus' love for us (25/7)

Take some time to see this short video.

[embed]http://www.facebook.com/photo.php?v=10202673032173412[/embed]

The steadfast love of the Lord never ceases;
    his mercies never come to an end;
they are new every morning;
    great is your faithfulness. (Lam 3:22-23)

Taking a Good Look at the Book (24/7)

Heres's John Piper leading you to have a good look at 2 Tim 3:14-17

http://vimeo.com/101339957

Find out more here.

Book Review - What's Your Worldview (15/7)

This is a really good book. Not only is it concise, informative, and well written, it’s actually quite fun to read it! Anderson was done something that few authors have done — a book that’s for everyone. This is literally such a book, no matter what worldview you may hold, you will find this book helpful and informative.

The concept of the book is very simple, make a decision at every section and at the end of it all, you will find out what worldview you have. At the ‘end’ of each route, you will have a summary of the worldview and also a quick evaluation of its strength and weakness of the particular worldview.

Anderson should be praised for the comprehensive scope of the number of worldviews covered, each and every summary Anderson almost always points out succinctly some of the problems of each worldview.

This is a great book for christians who wants to share with people of other faiths (or with no particular faiths). This would help the christian have a brief understanding of what others believe, and also what are some things that the Christian can ask in response to what they believe. Sure these are not silver-bullet questions, but I do think they are able to good conversion starters. It would also be good christians to give to non-christians who wants to know what kind a worldview he has, and whether he is able to live consistent with his belief.

Rating: 4.75/5

If you're interested, you can get it here, and here (free international shipping), Kindle.

Here's a video (unrelated to the book) that explains what a worldview is.

[youtube http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=Txez9sJUtaE]

Book Review - Ex-Muslim (8/7)

Naeem Fazal was a muslim serving Allah, but now he is now a christian serving the Lord Jesus Christ, and this book is his story how his life has been changed.

Naeem Fazal certainly lived a unique life, though he was born a Pakistani, he lived in Kuwait. And through many divine interventions came to know the Lord Jesus Christ in the US. This book is well written, recounting the author’s life chronologically (as you would expect from any biography), with in-depth details on the historical and culture context of his own life.

What is good about the book is that it’s very east to read and follow. Not only so, you can get to have a tiny “feel” of what it’s like to be a muslim, though it was not too many to overwhelm you, you do get to see bits and pieces of it scattered around the book. Furthermore, by reading this book, you do get a quick introduction to the basic belief of Islam and Hinduism.

Additionally, Fazal is able to show us how community is an extremely important area for a muslim, and if we intend to reach out to them, this is certainly one area that must never be overlooked. Also, he is able to show how there are some “point of contact” between muslims and christians that we can use to identify ourselves with them, and why the Lord Jesus is the only solution to the problem of sin.

Although much has been said about the Islamization of Europe, this book gives us hope that the muslims are searching for the same thing everyone else is — salvation from our sins, and only jesus can give that.

Although I may not agree with everything said, I do recommend it if you’re interested to read up about how to evangelise to an muslim, and/or if you generally like biographies. I have yet to read “Seeking Allah, Finding Jesus”, so it’ll be hard for me to conclude which is better.

Rating: 3.5/5

If you're interested, you can get it here, and here (free international shipping), Kindle.

Disclaimer: I was given this book free from the publisher in exchange for an honest review.

Here's a trailer for this book

http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=4hi3SjJ-0ng

Dare to watch this ENTIRE video? (26/6)

http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=Edx9D2yaOGs

Covenants vs. Dispensations (26/6)

Have you wondered what is the difference between dispensationalism and covenantal theology? This would be a good quick introduction on the topic taught by Peter Lillback

http://vimeo.com/94173058

Mike Reeves - A Trinitarian Gospel (20/6)

Mike Reeves speaks on the importance of revealing God as Trinity when we present the gospel message.
http://vimeo.com/54603241

Family Worship - Advice For Busy Fathers (19/6)

Some godly advice from Joel Beeke

http://vimeo.com/87021574

Look at the Book (18/6)

There's nothing more we need in every generation than to really look at the Book.

This sounds like an exciting series that would be worth your time.

http://vimeo.com/98352618

How Christianity Lost Its Cultural Influence And Can Begin Rebuilding It (7/6)

Do you feel as if Christian have lost it's influence within culture?

Here's an interview with Greg Forster, the author of Joy for the World: How Christianity Lost Its Cultural Influence And Can Begin Rebuilding It. HT: Justin Taylor

[embed]http://vimeo.com/94983168[/embed]

If you're interested, you can get this book here, and here (free shipping)

How did Evil come into the world? & Homosexuality and the Bible? (6/6)

Came across some wonderful resources that I thought would be good for me to share. HT: The Domain for Truth

This speaker is William Edgar, the Professor of Apologetics at Westminster Theological Seminary.

 

How did Evil come into the world?

[embed]http://vimeo.com/95745101[/embed]

[embed]http://vimeo.com/95745102[/embed]

[embed]http://vimeo.com/95745104[/embed]

[embed]http://vimeo.com/95745106[/embed]

[embed]http://vimeo.com/95745109[/embed]

 

If you're interested, you can get the booklet here, and here (free international shipping).

 

Homosexuality and the Bible: Who's is the Best Narrative?

[embed]http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=egwgk8MQqSU[/embed]

The Heavens Flimed For 7 Days (5/6)

This was filmed over the course of 7 days at El Teide, Spain’s highest mountain. It's a beautiful time lapsed video of how wonderful God's creation is.

[embed]http://vimeo.com/22439234[/embed]

When I look at your heavens, the work of your fingers,
  the moon and the stars, which you have set in place,
what is man that you are mindful of him,
  and the son of man that you care for him? (Psalm 8:3-4)

China's Reforming Churches (4/6)

This looks like a good book to start if you want to know more about the state and growth of the China churches.

[embed]https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=KuqR4pchsBE[/embed]

If you're interested, get it here and here (free international shipping), Kindle

Why Waste Your Talents (3/6)

Singapore Youth For Christ is having this national sports competition event: Teen Games 2014, if you're from Singapore, you can sign up to compete in it, do note that a Christian message will be shared. If you're not, pray for us, we hope to reach out to 1500 youths through these avenue.

[embed]http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=82H3tBdPMsw[/embed]

[embed]http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=LcZm9j7Ag4o[/embed]

[embed]http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=8VbKYDYYIFQ[/embed]

[embed]http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=EAAkH5UzkbE[/embed]

[embed]http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=4yJa0o37zF4[/embed]

 

Actual Date: 18th and 21st June

Sign up Deadline: 8th June

Cost: $15 per individual (includes insurance, a uniquely designed dry-fit T-shirt, and a meal coupon on the 2nd day)

Location: St. Andrews Junior College

Learning Thankfulness From The Life of Baby Zion (1/6)

This is a touching video on the life Baby Zion, who lived just 10 days. What about you? How many days have you lived?

[embed]http://vimeo.com/85610547[/embed]

So teach us to number our days
    that we may get a heart of wisdom.

Psalm 90:12

Help Boys Grow Up Well (1/6)

This is an interesting video on how to make schools more "boy-friendly".

[embed]https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=OFpYj0E-yb4[/embed]